A Sundre volunteer firefighter who was recently presented with a 20-year service award has known since he was little that he'd pursue a path in firefighting.
Shortly after Dave Bennett was born, his father, Robert Bennett, joined the ranks of the Sundre Fire Department, which he served for more than 20 years.
“I pretty much grew up at the fire hall,” said Dave, 38.
Formerly an officer in the RCMP during the 1970s, Robert was stationed in Sundre and when faced with a transfer decided he liked the community too much to leave and subsequently retired from the service. Within a few years, Robert became a volunteer firefighter. Although he since has died, Robert reached the rank of deputy fire chief.
“He was a captain as far back as I remember.”
Growing up, Dave said his father was a role model that he could look up to, and that firefighting is something he always took an interest in.
“He inspired me to do it.”
However, there were times his father didn't want him to become a firefighter.
“Let's be honest — in firefighting, there are some things that cannot be unseen.”
But someone has to do the job, he said. Having observed firefighters at the hall since he was little and even once being named Fire Chief for a Day, he spent a lot of his spare time just hanging out at the hall. At the age of 12, he had seen members run a hose during practice so many times that he knew he could do just as well if only he were bigger. As soon as he turned 16, Bennett joined the junior firefighter program.
“The rest is history. I've been around ever since.”
His passion for firefighting led him to look for a position with the Calgary Fire Department, but to no avail.
“I'm kind of glad I didn't, because as a volunteer firefighter here in Sundre, we deal with everything.”
In a city fire department, members are assigned specific roles or dedicated tasks such as working the pump. But in a volunteer department like Sundre's, firefighters get a chance to train for and respond to a variety of jobs. The Red Deer River alone can pose some unique challenges, he said.
In 2012, a pipeline was ruptured downstream of Sundre following flood damage. Although the line was no longer in use, it still had some oil in it that was released into the river. So the department offered its help to the company that owned the pipeline, which gladly accepted the offer, he said.
From what he's heard from other boaters, Dave said the Red Deer River is one of the more technical streams in North America. But he and fire chief Marty Butts — both of whom also work in the oilfield — know the river well and were able to contribute to the efforts to stem the spill.
The two each earned in 2012 a special jetboat operator certificate for marine emergency duties that allows them to have up to 15 people on a boat.
“It was a must to transport personnel legally.”
As more people use the river and it gets increasingly busy, the department saw the need to provide a service to respond to water emergencies and acquired this year a water rescue unit, he said.
“That's something our community should be proud of.”
The volunteer fire department offers its members many opportunities. Bennett has fought fires in Nordegg and has also competed in extrication competitions like the Alberta Regional Extrication Challenge. In 2008, the department competed internationally in Calgary against departments from countries like Australia, Sweden and Ireland.
“So now I kind of take it upon myself to keep up with extrication and train the guys. I believe we need to be on an international level in Sundre.”
A lot of traffic comes through on the highway, and that includes some high-end cars such as European imports that are built differently and pose a degree of difficulty in terms of extrication. Firefighters need to be knowledgeable about all kinds of vehicles, he said, adding that it's far better to know something and not need to use it, than to not know it and end up in a situation where that knowledge is needed.
The most challenging part of the job is getting through the winter months, when ice and water rescue operations can pose as much danger to responders as to the victims, he said.
“Firefighters have died just in training.”
There are always ups and downs serving on a volunteer fire department. But after 20 years serving Sundre, Bennett said he has no plans to step down any time soon.
“As long as I'm a resident of Sundre, I don't see myself leaving the department.”
Over the span of time, the department not only becomes a second home but it also “becomes a part of you. I hope to serve the community many more years.”
The fire hall is a source of pride, as well as the department's trucks and equipment, he said.
“I like to keep our apparatus in good working order. It's a must when you have a fire department. Anything that's broken down is useless.”
Equipped with the knowledge and experience needed to help others, combined with a shared trust and mutual respect for the members he's trained, makes all the time and effort he's put in over the years worthwhile.
“It's a very solid department. That keeps a guy going.”
In his spare time, Bennett enjoys hiking, camping, river boating, snowmobiling and quadding.
Balancing work, family and his volunteer service can be tough at times, but the oil company he works for supports its employees who help in the community.
“It's never a big issue to run off on a call. You can't have a volunteer fire department if you don't have businesses like that in the community.”
Serving with the fire department is very rewarding, he said, adding that being a firefighter “means a lot to me.”
Anyone who's thinking about joining the department needs to consider the risks and be aware that there will be times when they'll see something they might otherwise not want to.
“When you roll up on a scene, you're showing up on someone's worst day of their life,” he said.
But the members are there for one another, and they're encouraged to talk about anything that might be weighing on their minds.
Although the roster is currently full for the first time in a long time, the fire department is always receptive to new members.
“I don't think we'd ever turn anyone away. Members come and go — life takes people in different directions.”
Anyone who's interested is welcome to drop by the fire hall during practice any Wednesday night at about 7 p.m.
“If anyone's ever interested, talk to one of your local volunteer firefighters; get their thoughts.”
